BMW, Toyota working together on a smaller, cheaper Mini model

According to Khabar Khodro, according to a report, BMW and Toyota have begun investigating how they might produce a smaller and cheaper model to serve as a new entry point for the Mini range.

One source within Mini told Automobile magazine, “It’s still early days as far as the baby Mini goes, but when our new R&D board member Klaus Froehlich traveled to America early in the new year, this was one of the subjects on his agenda”.

The US publication believes that the new car will be based on a new and unique platform.

Although the pair could theoretically adapt the 3.4m-long Europe-only Toyota Aygo, BMW is unwilling to use that car as the Mini Minor’s basis. One objection is that the Aygo has only recently entered its second generation. Just as importantly, the Aygo was co-developed with PSA Peugeot Citroen, and is produced alongside its Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108 brethren.

At present the German and Japanese automakers are working together on a pair of rear-wheel drive two-door cars.